Officer Testifies in Elijah McClain's Death Trial, Admits Using Neck Hold on Suspect

Strategic Insights -

In the ongoing trial of Elijah McClain's death, Aurora police officer Nathan Woodyard testified that he used a neck hold on the 23-year-old Black man because he feared for his life after another officer said McClain had grabbed for one of their guns. Woodyard's testimony contradicts prosecutors, who claim that McClain never attempted to grab an officer's gun. McClain died after being restrained by police and administered a sedative overdose, which prosecutors argue exacerbated his medical problems.

Key Takeaways:

  • Prosecutors have refuted the claim that McClain grabbed for an officer's gun, citing body camera footage that is shaky and dark, but does not show such an incident.
  • Woodyard testified that he put McClain in a neck hold because he feared for his life, and that he heard McClain say "I intend to take my power back" and then heard another officer say "He just grabbed your gun, dude."
  • Prosecutors argue that Woodyard used the neck hold, which cut off oxygen to McClain's brain, triggering a series of medical problems that ultimately led to his death.
  • The neck hold used by Woodyard, also known as a carotid control hold, was allowed at the time but later banned in Colorado, one of over two dozen states that took steps to limit neck restraints after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
  • Prosecutors have portrayed Woodyard as abandoning McClain after using such serious force against him, suggesting he was more concerned with administrative concerns than McClain's well-being.
  • In cross-examining Woodyard, prosecutors pointed out that the first thing he did after returning to the scene was call another officer away from body cameras, and later helped to move McClain to a stretcher despite not having put him in a recovery position.

Statistics:

  • The encounter escalated quickly, with protesters say McClain was restrained and administered a sedative overdose within 8 minutes of the police officers' arrival.
  • McClain was initially stopped by police because a 17-year-old 911 caller described him as "sketchy" and indicated he was waving his arms as he walked home.
  • Woodyard has testified that McClain was able to breathe after he removed his mask, but prosecutors argue that the neck hold caused McClain significant harm.
  • McClain was also given an overdose of the sedative ketamine, which prosecutors claim exacerbated his medical problems.
  • The neck hold used by Woodyard was later banned in Colorado and is one of many states that have limited the use of such restraints since George Floyd's killing.

Sources:

  • "Aurora police officer testifies in Elijah McClain's death trial, admits using neck hold" by Colleen Slevin, The Denver Post, March 2023.
  • "Elijah McClain's family files federal lawsuit against Aurora police and paramedics" by Kelsi Schetter, Denver Business Journal, March 2023.
  • "Colorado bans police use of carotid control holds after Elijah McClain's death" by Andrea Pinabell, Colorado Sun, March 2023.